verb
Uncommon
boycott
BOY-kot
Boycott (verb) means to refuse to buy from, deal with, or take part in something, as a form of protest. Example: “Consumers began to boycott the brand after the scandal broke.”
verb
1
To refuse to buy from, deal with, or take part in something, as a form of protest.
"Consumers began to boycott the brand after the scandal broke."
"The union urged members to boycott the company's products."
"Many fans decided to boycott the match until the ticket rules were changed."
noun
1
An organized refusal to engage with a person, business, or organization as a protest.
"The boycott lasted for months before the company changed its policy."
"Shoppers organised a boycott of the supermarket after it cut its staff's pay."
"A boycott of the cafe ended once the owner apologised publicly."
How to use boycott
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo deliberately avoid buying from or dealing with someone or something as a protest.
Common pairings
boycott a company
call for a boycott
organize a boycott
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Word forms
- Plural
- boycotts
- Third person singular
- boycotts
- Past tense
- boycotted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Consumers began to _____ the brand after the scandal broke.
Etymology
From the surname of Charles Boycott, an English land agent in Ireland who was shunned by his community in an organized protest in 1880.
Class of 1880
boycott joined the language around 1880.
See the full Class of 1880 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “boycott” mean?
The word “boycott” means to refuse to buy from, deal with, or take part in something, as a form of protest. In plain terms, to deliberately avoid buying from or dealing with someone or something as a protest.
How do you pronounce “boycott”?
“Boycott” is pronounced BOY-kot (/ˈbɔɪkɑt/ in IPA).
How do you use “boycott” in a sentence?
Here is “boycott” used in a sentence: “Consumers began to boycott the brand after the scandal broke.”
What is another word for “boycott”?
Words with a similar meaning to “boycott” include embargo.
What is the opposite of “boycott”?
The opposite of “boycott” — its antonyms — are buycott, endorse, favour and procott.
What part of speech is “boycott”?
Depending on how it is used, “boycott” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “boycott” come from?
The word “boycott” dates back to around 1880. From the surname of Charles Boycott, an English land agent in Ireland who was shunned by his community in an organized protest in 1880.
Is “boycott” a common word?
“Boycott” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between a boycott and a strike?
A boycott is an organized refusal to buy from, deal with, or take part in something as a form of protest, typically carried out by consumers or outside groups. A strike is a refusal to work, carried out specifically by employees of an organization, making the two forms of protest distinct in who participates and how.
Can boycott be used as both a noun and a verb?
Yes, boycott functions as both a verb, meaning to refuse to buy from or deal with something as protest, and a noun, meaning the organized refusal itself, as in "they announced a boycott of the company."
What is the difference between a boycott and an embargo?
A boycott is generally a voluntary protest action taken by individuals, groups, or consumers, while an embargo is usually an official restriction imposed by a government, often barring trade with another country. Boycotts tend to be grassroots in nature, whereas embargoes carry legal or political authority.
